ICHIGO-ICHIEH

Accomplished dancerchoreographer-actor Hiromoto Ida skillfully merges dance, theatre, classical music, and voice to tell the story of an old man (Hiromoto Ida), raising a glass of sake to himself in celebration on what will be his last birthday. Reminiscing about the richness of his life experience, he is visited by the spirit of his wife (Lindsay Clague). Birthday Present for Myself features musicians Nicola

Everton (clarinet), Sue Gould (piano), Jeff Faragher (cello), and Martine denBok (violin & viola), performing an evocative original score by Russian composer Pavel Karmanov. Simple but rich text from pioneer Japanese contemporary theatre playwright, Shogo Ota, and a Kagekiyo Noh theatre mask created by Japanese Noh mask artist Mitsue Nakamura adds to the poignant beauty of the work.

Inspired by the subtlety and simplicity of Japanese Noh theatre expressed through western contemporary dance and music, Ida touches our hearts. Through themes of love, transformation and regeneration, the inner world and emotions of this old man inspires us to find unexpected beauty in our own lives.

Duration: 90 minutes

Birthday Present for Myself

March 17-18 @ 8pm

$30-35

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

Presented with:

Credits:

Creation/Direction/ Choreographer: Hiromoto Ida

Performers: Hiromoto Ida (Old Man), Lindsay Clague (Wife), Nicola Everton (Clarinet), Sue Gould (Piano), Jeff Faragher (Cello) and Martine Den Bok (Violin/Viola)

Music Score: Pavel Karmanov

Text: Shogo Ota (Excerpt from Play “Sumika”)

Assistant Director: Lindsay Clague

Noh Mask: Mitsue Nakamura

Sound Design: John Tucker

Sound Assistant: Lachlan Tocher

Set & Poster Design: Thomas Loh

Lighting Design: Sharon Huizinga

Stage Manager: Olivia Bogaard

Assistant Stage Manager: Hannah Stevens